• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Mid Fi to Hi Fi threshold

M

M1chael

Active Member
At what point do we leave the realm of mid-fi and enter the realm of hi-fi? And what are the determining factors that make it so? Price? Real discernable differences in sound quality?

I mean at some point isn't good enough sound quality good enough? I've never listened to 30k speakers though so maybe there really is a clear line of demarcation between mid-fi and hi-fi. Maybe it's a whole other realm that I simply have not experienced.


M1chael
 
Register to hide this ad
Well, dictionary.com says the definition of high fidelity is "...sound reproduction over the full range of audible frequencies with very little distortion of the original signal".

I have some cheaper components that seem to fit this definition, along with some more expensive ones that fit. As long as you find it truly enjoyable it's hi-fi. Maybe not to somebody else, but why should that matter?
 
JoeESP9 said:
I would say tone controls are a reasonable indicator. None of the high end gear I have any experience with has tone controls or a loudness switch. With speakers it's all about the sound.
Click to expand...

Interesting. My Audio Research SP-3A preamp, one of the first high end preamps for this company has both loudness and tone controls, switchable to remove them from the circuit. I'm gonna think you are talking about more modern gear as many ARC preamps of old have tone controls. They even offered similar units with and without so those that don't want tone controls can save a few bucks to put somewhere else in the system.

The dividing line is something that moves depending on who you are discussing it with. Some see high end and the true top units out there. Others might think there is a price point where the change happens. Since this is a topic that has so many different opinions you can see the reason AK does not want to use the term in the name of a forum.

But since the question is hi-fi or mid-fi, most of the crap we like is hi-fi, just not high end gear. Nothing wrong with that.
 
Last edited:
I think we have cost of equipment confused with the ability of a piece of equipment...

Because great sound comes from Top Of The Line equipment of which was manufactured every year. Which was the best every manufacturers had to offer year after year. Then occasionally one rose to the top. An expensive corporate sound is not HIFI. A unit with less distortion, great signal to noise ratio, build characteristics, sensitivity...... But there are those that believe that any unit built between this year and that are all HIFI no matter how high the distortion is or how narrow the range of frequencies are. There are plenty of pleasant sounding MID-FI units and each to their own. But personal bias causes people to defend what they own as something just as good as TOP OF THE LINE. So, you can not expect an exact definition of what HIFI is.
 
One of these days I'm gonna take a set of my high end speakers ( JBL, EMI, PSB, Allison, Altec) and hook them up to some Emerson unit, or a Yorx, or some other bullshit device that was all the rage for those with no money back in the day and just see what it sounds like. I fear that I might like it more than I would care to admit. Then I will weigh in on mid fi vs. hi fi.
 
Audio is a hobby, and like most hobbies there is usually a desire to get to the next level. If you are trying to improve your sound, you are in the hi-fi world. If you are satisfied that what you have sounds very good, you are also in the realm of hi-fi. I don't think money plays a part, despite the misconception that to get to the next level you need to spend more or have high dollar components. When you get to a certain level, the law of diminishing returns takes effect.
 
Are any receivers made by Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Onkyo or any other common names considered hi-fi. Just curious.
 
danrclem said:
Are any receivers made by Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Onkyo or any other common names considered hi-fi. Just curious.
Click to expand...

IMO they all make hi-fi gear. To those who own higher end components, probably not. Many would dismiss receivers as not meeting their criteria simply because they are not separates.
 
Mister Pig said:
Hi fi/high end. The level of audio reproduction that pigs and cows prefer.

Mid fi. The quality level of audio reproduction that goats and horses are satisfied with.

Lo fi. The quality level of gear and sound reproduction that satisfies the chickens.

Regards
Mister Pig
Click to expand...
I've heard it said that the chickens just don't give a cluck.:D
 
danrclem said:
Are any receivers made by Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Onkyo or any other common names considered hi-fi. Just curious.
Click to expand...

Some '90s Sansui 'alpha' amps are Hi-Fi. The 'alpha series' amps sound fantastic and some command high used prices, $2,000 to $3,000+.

A few '80s tuners are noted audiophile, like TU-717 & TU-919.

Receivers - none really Hi-Fi in today's terms, but some Sansui receivers sound really powerful.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom